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KINGFISHER IN THE NEWS
THE Abbeycrest care home in Sonning Common collected 138 shoeboxes full of gifts for Operation Christmas Child. Each year, the international relief and development charity Samaritan’s Purse collects gifts of toys, school supplies, and hygiene items for children around the world.
George King, customer relations manager at the home, said: “Both residents and staff wanted to beat last year’s total of 54 boxes, so we mobilised families and friends along with the local community and businesses.” As well as the gifts £690 was donated.
Mr King said: “I want to send a huge thank-you to our wonderful local community. The gift of giving provides so many benefits to our residents and staff, such as the feeling of social connection, promoting happiness and improving health. It is heartwarming to see the outcomes.”
Businesses and community groups involved included the Christian Aid shop, Kingfisher Kindergarten, Little Birches Nursery and Preschool, the Fish Volunteer Centre, Sonning Common Vauxhall, the Co-op, Wood Lane Dentistry, Sonning Common Health Centre, Bishopswood School and Springwater Church.
December 2022
Children perform nativity for care home residents
CHILDREN from a nursery in Sonning Common performed the nativity for residents of a nearby care home.
Kingfisher Kindergarten in Reades Lane had not visited Abbeycrest in Essex Way since 2019 due to the covid pandemic. The 23
children sang songs including Our First Nativity, I’m a Little Angel, To Bethlehem, Away in a Manger, Three Little Shepherds and Ride Your Camel.
Mary and Joseph were played by Tabitha Fairburn and Louie Keable-Elliot. Kindergarten owner La-Ryne van der Westhuizen, said: “We were so excited to be able to return to Abbeycrest following the pandemic. It really is a great day out for us and the children.
“We believe it helps both the children and the elderly engage. The children learn from new experiences and the elderly might be reminded of fond memories of their past.”
Tamena Seymour, home
co-ordinator at Abbeycrest, said: “It’s lovely for the residents to see the children acting out the nativity and you could see they enjoyed it as their faces lit up.”
November 2022
Kindergarten Children perform at care home
MORE than 20 children from the Kingfisher Kindergarten in Sonning Common performed a nativity for residents at Abbeycrest care home in the village.
Gracie Barron, three, played Mary and Harvey Buckley, three, was Joseph in the show, which was called Our First Nativity.
The children were accompanied by seven members of staff from the kindergarten as they sang I’m a Little Angel and Away in a Manger.
La-Ryne van der Westhuizen, who owns the kindergarten, said: “The residents really enjoyed it. A couple of them said hello and that it had lifted their spirits. We think it’s a good thing for the children to do.”
The kindergarten is based at Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge in Reades Lane.
December 2019
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Kindergarten’s spring concert bridges generation gap
CHILDREN from Kingfisher Kindergarten in Sonning Common staged an Easter-themed concert for elderly villagers.
The 19 youngsters, who were aged between two and four, performed for about 30 residents at the Abbeycrest care home off Kennylands Road.
They sang Five Currant Buns, Chick Chick Chicken, Hop Little Bunnies, Five Little Ducks, Five Little Speckled Frogs and The Tractor Song.
Some wore duck masks and waved props. The residents applauded after each number and the children spoke to them after performing.
Louie Deacon, three, said: “My favourite song is the one with the frogs.” Belle Holloway, four, said: “I like the cakes and singing. My favourite is the Tractor Song.”
The residents were then served cupcakes, white chocolate chip cookies and apple cake.
La-Ryne van der Westhuizen, who owns the kindergarten, said: “It was fantastic and the children really enjoyed it.
“It is the first time we have done something like this and we are planning to do it again. The care home said they wanted us to come back. It is a bit of generational mixing, which is beneficial.”
April 2019
We are delighted to have achieved another Good rating from Ofsted in April 2019.
We are very proud of the setting and we are very pleased with the feedback and results we received.
We are delighted to have received another 5 Star Rating from the Food Standards Agency in January 2019